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Use of Amiodarone in the Management of the Wolff‐Parkinson‐White Syndrome
Author(s) -
KAPPENBERGER LUKAS J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
clinical progress in electrophysiology and pacing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 8756-9264
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.1986.tb01727.x
Subject(s) - amiodarone , medicine , cardiology , refractory (planetary science) , refractory period , tachycardia , wpw syndrome , effective refractory period , atrial fibrillation , anesthesia , physics , astrobiology
The ayitiarrhythmic properties of amiodarone in WPW‐syndrome depend on several simultaneously active mechanisms. Its electrophysiologic properties lead to reduction of excitabUity, lengthening of refractory periods and slowing of conduction. With these effects, it reduces premature ectopic beats and thus initiating events for tachycardias. The ventricular response during atrial fibrillation will be reduced in most but unfor‐tunately not all patients and tachycardia cycle length will be prolonged. Therefore amiodarone seems to be the drug of choice in WPW‐syndrome if there was not a high incidence of side‐effects and an extremely long tissue half‐life. The prescription has therefore to be made with caution since if once applied, its effects are not immediately renersible. Hoioever, in some cases it offers an alternative for surgery of IVPW.